National Europass Centre - www.na-bibb.de National Europass Centres (NEC) have been established in all countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA). These centres coordinate all activities which take place in connection with the five Europass transparency documents. In Germany, the National Agency Education for Europe at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (NA at BIBB) acts as the National Europass Centre. All NEC‘s form part of a network, the purpose of which is to ensure the transnational exchange of information and experiences. Please visit the CEDEFOP website for information on the addresses of foreign NEC’shttp://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/.

CEDEFOP - http://europass.cedefop.europa.euCEDEFOP is the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. This is an organisation instigated on the initiative of the European Commission. CEDEFOP maintains the European Europass Portal and provides information on all five transparency documents as well as making the Europass Curriculum Vitae and the Europass Language Passport in particular available to all interested parties for further editing in the form of electronic templates in all languages.

European Commission - http://ec.europa.eu/A brief presentation of the Europass is available on the website of the European Commission.

Pedagogical Exchange Service - www.kmk-pad.org The Pedagogical Exchange Service (PAD) is housed at the Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder of the Federal Republic of Germany, KMK . It undertakes activities in connection with school exchanges on behalf of the federal states and advises schools on the Europass.

German Academic Exchange Service - www.eu.daad.deThe German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) website provides students with information on the educational programmes of the European Union. It is responsible for the management of higher education mobility projects (Socrates/Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci) and also acts as a Europass issuing body in the higher education sector.

HRK – www.hrk.deThe German Rectors' Conference/Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK) is the voluntary association of state and state-recognised universities and other higher education institutions in Germany. The HRK is the political and public voice of the universities and other higher education institutions and is the forum for the higher education institutions' joint opinion-forming process. The HRK addresses all topics relating to the responsibilities of higher education institutions: Research, teaching, studies, advanced continuing education and training, knowledge and technology transfer, international cooperation, and self-administration issues.

HRK, Project "nexus" - http://www.hrk-nexus.de/projekt-nexus/aufgaben-und-ziele/The project "nexus - concepts and good practice for studies and teaching" has been started by the HRK in order to support universities in developing further the courses of studies and the quality of studies.

Europass Certificate Supplement – www2.bibb.de/tools/aab/aabzeliste_de.phpA Europass Certificate Supplement is a training or vocationally related supplement which has general validity, meaning it provides a description for the occupation in question and is freely available to all interested parties. Europass Certificate Supplements are issued by the competent authority in each respective EU country. German Certificate Supplements are issued by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with the agreement of the social partners. Certificate Supplements are currently available for approximately 350 recognised training occupations within the dual system of vocational education and training.

Training profiles - www.bibb.de/de/ausbildungsprofile-start.htmThis website is maintained by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) and presently provides training profiles (brief descriptions) of new and updated training occupations from 1997 to 2007. Since 2008, training profiles have no longer been drawn up. Only the new Europass Certificate Supplements in German, English and French are now presented.Certificate Supplements are drawn up and made available by BIBB acting in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the social partners.

National Europass Centres - europass.cedefop.europa.euIn every member state of the European Union a National Europass Center (NEC) coordinates the release and development of the Europass transparency documents.

Advisory and issuing bodies in Germany – Advisory and issuing bodies in Germany (Verlinkt auf pdf Ausgabestellen)In Germany exist numerous service centres giving people advise on the Europass within the general and vocational education and issuing the Europass Mobility.

DISCO - www.disco-tools.euThe DISCO online dictionary (Dictionary of Skills and Competencies) provides translations of vocational qualifications and competences in seven European languages. This is a multi-lingual thesaurus which can be used to draw up and translate European degree certificates, electronic job application folders and applications documentation such as CV’s or mobility certificates and job advertisements.

Europass+ - www.europassplus.infoEuropass+ is an online tool which has been developed within the scope of a Leonardo Da Vinci Projects to support young people wishing to use the Europass Curriculum Vitae in assessing competences they have acquired outside formal educational pathways.

ProfilPASS - www.profilpass-online.de The ProfilPASS provides an overview of perosnal educational pathways and perosnal competences. Its purpose is the systematic identification and documentation of skills and competences regardless of how and where such skills and competences have been acquired. It stimulates users to undergo an intensive process of self-reflection with regard to their own actions and competences deployed and assists in creating awareness of perosnal strengths.

ProfilPASS for young people - www.profilpass-fuer-junge-menschen.deThe ProfilPASS for young people is aimed at young people aged 14 and upwards and represents a tailored method whereby this target group can ascertain personal strengths. The aim is to provide young people with personal development support and help them identify and present their own development process. This enables it to function in the same way as the ProfilPASS for adults in encouraging and strengthening self-confidence, motivation and activation and increasing willingness to take on responsibility.

Qualipass - www.qualipass.info The Qualipass is aimed at young people and young adults. Various certificates provide a vehicle for the documentation of competences, training courses and practical experience. This includes certification of voluntary work undertaken in clubs, schools, youth work and society and also encompasses courses, practical placements or vocational orientation activities. The competences thus identified can be directly used to inform the Europass Curriculum Vitae and the Europass Language Passport and constitute an important way of supplementing job applications.

Qualipass - Baden-Württemberg Educational Passport for adults -www.qualipass.info/bildungspassThe Baden-Württemberg Qualipass-Educational Passport is a document folder for adults which records voluntary activities as well as participation in specialist professional training offered by trade and industry and by continuing training providers. It supports the goal of lifelong learning by recording and documenting a wide range of learning venues and competences. The competences thus identified can be directly used to inform the Europass Curriculum Vitae and the Europass Language passport and constitute a way of supplementing documentation for job applications.

CM ProFiler - www.cmprowork.eu This website, which is part of the Leonardo da Vinci Project, includes the CM ProFiler tool for production workers up to master craftsman level. Once users have responded to 20 questions, it draws up a document which can be used for applications with the Europass Curriculum Vitae. It answers questions such as the following. Which competences have I acquired during my occupational activities in the production sector via learning as well as via my work itself and the experiences I have had in carrying out this work? How can I present these competences in such a way so as to make them comparable for further occupational development and useful for applications?

Youthpass - www.youthpass.euThe YOUTHPASS is an instrument for the description, confirmation and recognition of non-formal learning within the scope of the EU Programme YOUTH IN ACTION (YiA). Der YOUTHPASS is, however, more than a mere certificate of participation. It is an official certificate which can be issued in youth initiatives, in the European Voluntary Service and in training courses. The aims of the YOUTHPASS are to encourage reflection of personal learning experiences and foster the social recognition of non-formal learning.

EU educational policy

EU educational policy - www.eu-bildungspolitik.de This portal provides the latest news and background information on the various areas of educational policy cooperation in the EU and on initiatives adopted. It summarises information on current policy developments for each topic, explains the background to political processes and makes the most important EU documents available for download.

EQR - http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/doc44_en.htm The aim of the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF) is to facilitate the comparison of national certificates and qualifications across Europe. The EQF offers a “translation system” between the various national educational systems which enables mutual recognition of qualifications to be simplified.

ECVET - http://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/vocational-policy/ecvet_en.htmThe European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) aims to improve the transparency and comparability of different European vocational education and training systems and qualifications. It enables participants to exercise more precise control over their individual learning experiences and makes it more attractive to make a switch between individual countries and different learning environments. The objective of the system is the simplification of the validation, recognition and accumulation of skills and knowledge acquired during a period spent in another country or in different learning situations.

National Coordination Centre ECVET - www.ecvet-info.deThe portal of the National Coordination Centre for the European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training ECVET (NKS-ECVET) informs about ECVET which aims to facilitate the transfer and the recognition of vocational competences between the member states of the European Union. The competence based description and evaluation of learning outcomes acquired abroad aims to make possible a better matching with vocational training in Germany. The portal informs about the testing of ECVET in Germany and Europe, instruments for implementation, examples of good practice and pilot projects. The NKS-ECVET advices companies, associations, vocational schools and other educational institutions on ECVET and organises events of practical importance.

ECTS - http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/doc48_en.htmThe European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is used across Europe for the transfer of credit points (within the scope of the mobility of higher education students) and for the accumulation of such points (educational pathways within the acquisition of a higher education degree). It promotes the transparency of teaching and learning and facilitates the recognition of formal, non-formal and informal study achievements. It also provides information on curricular structure and quality assurance.

Europa 2020 - http://ec.europa.eu/eu2020/index_en.htm This website delivers a strategy for intelligent, sustainable and integrative economic growth. General education, vocational training and lifelong learning all play a key role within this process.

Youth on the move / Jugend in Bewegung - http://europa.eu/youthonthemove/europe2020_en.htmYoung people have been particularly severely affected by the latest economic crisis. The aims of Youth on the Move are to improve labour market opportunities by expanding mobility provision for higher education students and trainees and to improve the quality and attractiveness of education and training in Europe. Youth on the Move forms part of Europe 2020, the ERU strategy aimed at overcoming the economic crisis.

New Skills for New Jobs - neue Kompetenzen für neue Arbeitsplätze - http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=568&langId=en “New Skills für New Jobs” is an initiative at EU level which aims to bridge the gap between the worlds of education, training and work. The idea is that citizens will be motivated to improve and expand their qualifications and competences in order to be equipped for the “jobs of tomorrow”.

Programme for Lifelong Learning -www.na-bibb.de/programm_lebenslanges_lernen_2.html The aim of the Programme for Lifelong Learning (PLL) is to support educational policy cooperation in Europe and in particular to help push forward the implementation of the objectives of the Copenhagen Declaration within the field of vocational education and support the realisation of the Bologna Process in the higher education sector. The PLL brings the COMENIUS, ERASMUS, Leonardo da Vinci and SOCRATES Programmes, previously run separately, together under a joint umbrella.

The Assistant Period – www.kmkpad.org/programme/comenius-assistenzzeiten.htmlProspective teachers of all subjects and types of school become employed for a period of 13 up to 45 weeks at a school or preliminary school in Europe. They assist during the lessons, support school projects and often teach their mother tongue, too. They are ambassadors of their own country and Europe.

European study visits - www.kmk-pad.org/programme/studienbesuche.htmlThe European study visit programme enables European experts of education and vocational training the exchange of ideas referring to actual themes and problems of their subjects and the educational and vocational training systems of their countries. The study visits have a duration of three days up to five days.

Internet portal on EU educational policy - www.eu-bildungspolitik.de The NA at BIBB has cooperated with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) on the instigation of the Internet portal www.eu-bildungspolitik.de. The portal explains EU educational policy correlations in an understandable manner and makes relevant EU documents available for download. The provision is expressly aimed at interested parties within the general public and media as well as being addressed towards stakeholders from within general education and vocational education and training.

ENIC/NARIC - www.enic-naric.net ENIC and NARIC are the European Network of Information Centres in the European Region and the National Academic Recognition Information Centres in the European Union respectively. The primary function of both networks is to provide information on the recognition of academic certificates and qualifications and to a certain extent on study opportunities abroad and educational systems. ENIC was instigated by the Council of Europe at UNESCO/CEPES whereas NARIC has its origins in an initiative promulgated by the European Commission.

EURES - http://europa.eu.int/eures/home.jsp?lang=en EURES (European Employment Service) is the European occupational mobility portal. It provides advice and information on work opportunities in Europe and in the European Economic Area (EEA) and helps both employers and job seekers with job placements. The services provided by EURES support citizens in asserting their right to free movement and play an important role in the creation of a common European labour market.

eurodesk - www.eurodesk.de Eurodesk is a European information network involving National Agencies in 29 countries and 900 further service agencies. The aim of the network is to facilitate access to Europe for young people and youth work multipliers. A wide range of information is provided on the topics of young people, education, training, mobility and so forth with the aim of helping young people to benefit from the fact that Europe is growing ever closer together and to facilitate access to the chances and opportunities afforded by cross-border activities.

PLOTEUS - http://europa.eu.int/ploteus/portal/home.jsp PLOTEUS is a portal which offers information on learning provision and continuing training opportunities within the European Union. The contents of the PLOTEUS website include links to initial and continuing vocational education and training institutions or to relevant databases. PLOTEUS also provides descriptions and explanations on the various educational systems of the individual countries and offers information on European exchange and scholarship programmes as well as containing practical tips for stays in another EU country.

EUROGUIDANCE - www.euroguidance.net EUROGUIDANCE is the National Recourse Centres for Vocational Guidance (NRCVG), a network initiated by the European Commission for the purpose of fostering mobility within Europe. The NRCVG institutions in Germany are housed at the Europe Service of the Federal Employment Agency (ES-BA). EUROGUIDANCE administers the PLOTEUS Portal in conjunction with the European Union Directorate General for Education and Culture.

European Commission in Germany - http://ec.europa.eu/deutschland/index_de.htm The website of the European Commission in Germany provides specially tailored information and news on relevant topics for citizens interested in the activities of the European Union, teaching staff, young people and journalists. It also offers regional windows on the Commission’s representative offices located in Berlin, Bonn and Munich.

European Union - http://europa.eu.int/index_de.htm The German language portal of the European Union contains important country information and provides and summary of the areas of activity, services, institutions and work of the EU.

Council of Europe – www.coe.intThe Council of Europe has collaborated on the drawing up of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This Framework is a self assessment grid which aims at making transparent and comparable the learners language acquisition, the use of the language and the linguistic competence.

European language portfolio - www.coe.int/portfolio This portal is operated by the Council of Europe and presents a summary of the European Language Portfolio (ELP). Part of the ELP formed the basis for the development of the Europass Language Passport.

Eurydice - www.eurydice.org Eurydice is an information network for education in Europe and collates and disseminates comparable data on educational systems and policies in countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA).

Internet portal of the National Agencies for the Lifelong Learning Programme (PLL) in Germany - www.lebenslanges-lernen.eu The National Agencies for the Lifelong Learning Programme (PLL) provide information and advice on funding opportunities, monitor the implementation of projects and offer support in the dissemination of project results.

"National Agency Education for Europe" at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) - www.na-bibb.de The National Agency Education for Europe acts on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in implementing European education programmes and initiatives in Germany. Its tasks include providing information on European education programmes and initiatives, advisory services, project management, the networking of projects and supporting the transfer of results.

Pedagogical Exchange Service at the Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder of the Federal Republic of Germany (KMK) - www.kmk.orgAmongst other bodies, the Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder of the Federal Republic of Germany (KMK) houses the Pedagogical Exchange Service (PAD), which undertakes activities in connection with school exchanges on behalf of the federal states. The KMK is also home to the Central Office for Foreign Education, which provides advisory and information services on the evaluation and recognition of foreign educational qualifications.

Leonardo da Vinci Mobility - http://www.lebenslanges-lernen.eu/leonardo_da_vinci_4.htmlLEONARDO DA VINCI is the European programme for the initial and continuing vocational education and training sector. It forms part of the Programme for Lifelong Learning (PLL), and in this capacity supports cooperation between stakeholders within this sector by funding stays abroad for vocational learning purposes and by using European partnerships as a vehicle for the development of innovative teaching and learning materials or additional qualifications.

Bilateral programmes in Europe - www.inwent.org/.../bilaterale_austauschprogramme/index.de.shtml Bilateral programmes are aimed at trainees undergoing initial vocational education and training within the dual system as well as being directed at in-company, inter-company and extra-company training staff and promote exchange with the Netherlands (BAND), the United Kingdom (TRAINING BRIDGE) and Norway (GJOR DET).

German-French Youth Office (DFJW) - http://www.dfjw.org/The DFJW is an international organisation with offices in Berlin and Paris which promotes Franco-German cooperation. It was established on the basis of the Elysée Treaty of 1963. Its task is to deepen relations between children, young people, young adults and those responsible for youth work within both countries via such vehicles as intercultural learning, vocational training and joint projects for civic commitment.

German-French Secretariat (DFS) - http://www.dfs-sfa.org/The German-French Secretariat fosters cooperation in vocational training by arranging bilateral exchange programmes with France. The organisation has its foundations in a treaty signed in February 1980 by the governments of the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic in respect of the implementation of an exchange of young people and adults in initial or advanced training.

Foreign language assistants programme of the Pedagogical Exchange Service (PAD) - www.kmk-pad.org/programme/dtsch-fsa.htmlWithin the framework of the exchange of foreign language assistants students from Germany have the possibility to be involved in the teaching of German at a foreign educational institution and thus improving their knowledge of the language and culture of the host country. They gain an insight into the education system and the teaching methods of the country.The Pedagogical Exchange Service is the sole public organisation in Germany working on behalf of the Federal States to carry out the programme.

Grundtvig - http://www.lebenslanges-lernen.eu/grundtvig_5.htmlGRUNDTVIG is the European programme for general adult education. In its capacity as part of the Programme for Lifelong Learning (PLL), Grundtvig supports adults of all age groups and from all social backgrounds in pursuing further education in other EU countries or in participating in workshops.

Comenius -http://www.lebenslanges-lernen.eu/comenius_2.html Comenius is part of the Programme for Lifelong Learning (PLL). It supports the mobility of pupils, trainee teachers and teachers, promotes the learning of modern foreign languages and facilitates innovative cooperation and partnership pathways between school institutions in Europe.

Erasmus - http://www.lebenslanges-lernen.eu/erasmus_3.html ERASMUS forms part of the Programme for Lifelong Learning (PLL). Its main focus is on the mobility of higher education students, lecturers, other HE staff and foreign company employees. ERASMUS also fosters transnational cooperation between institutes of higher education in Europe and between institutes of higher education and trade and industry.

Chance Europa - Chance Europe - www.chance-europe.deThe Chance Europe website is operated by the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts and includes information on the European Union funded information campaign for mobility for craft trade companies. Part of the information campaign is a Franco-German project which particularly aims to encourage employees in small and medium-sized craft trade companies to undertake a practical placement or period of work abroad in another European country.

International Youth Service of the Federal Republic of Germany - www.ijab.deThe International Youth Service of the Federal Republic of Germany (IJAB) is the major specialist national agency for youth policy, youth work and youth information services. IJAB provides information on the topic of international youth mobility on its website www.rausvonzuhaus.de.

EURES - http://europa.eu.int/eures/home.jsp?lang=enEURES (European Employment Service) is the European occupational mobility portal. It provides advice and information on work opportunities in the European Economic Area (EEA) and helps both employers and job seekers with job placements. The services provided by EURES support EEA citizens in asserting their right to free movement and play an important role in the creation of a common European labour market.

EUROGUIDANCE - www.euroguidance.netEUROGUIDANCE is the National Recourse Centres for Vocational Guidance (NRCVG), a network initiated by the European Commission for the purpose of fostering mobility within Europe. The NRCVG institutions in Germany are housed at the Europe Service of the Federal Employment Agency (ES-BA). EUROGUIDANCE administers the PLOTEUS Portal in conjunction with the European Union Directorate General for Education and Culture.

FSJ-ADiA - www.fsj-adia.deFSJ-ADiA (Voluntary Social Year – Other Civilian Service Abroad) is an information portal on voluntary service abroad which currently cooperates with over 100 voluntary organisations. The website provides a whole host of information as well as a comprehensive job exchange and personal field reports from volunteers.

Central Foreign and Specialist Placement Agency - www.ba-auslandsvermittlung.deThe main focus of the website of the Central Foreign and Specialist Placement Agency (ZAV), which is operated by the Federal Employment Agency, is on working abroad and European Union labour markets. The website also presents details on non-European countries in which prevailing labour or immigration law makes it possible for positions to be filled by German skilled workers or management staff as well as providing information on training and higher education study in Europe.

Central Office for Foreign Education - http://www.kmk.org/zab.htmlThe Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) is the main body for the evaluation of foreign qualifications in Germany, including school, vocational and higher education qualifications. The ZAB provides its services to educational establishments, government authorities and private persons. It responds to a total of approximately 27,000 enquiries every year.

SOLVIT - http://ec.europa.eu/solvit/SOLVIT is a free online service for resolving problems in the field of employment law and organisation which offers support to anyone meeting resistance in the preparation and execution of a period to be spent abroad. Companies can also use the service to identify pragmatic solutions to any problems they may be experiencing with the common market.

Recognition in Germany - www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de"Recognition in Germany" is the new information portal regarding the German government's Recognition Act. This portal provides up-to-date information on the legal basis and procedure for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications. If you would like to have a professional qualification that you acquired abroad recognized in Germany, you can use this portal to find your competent body and your local contact centre.

BERUFEnet - www.berufenet.deBERUFEnet is a database operated by the Federal Employment Agency (BA) in Germany which provides descriptions of training and occupational activities. It contains comprehensive information on more than 6,300 occupations in Germany as well as providing numerous links to other relevant information systems such as job or job application exchanges.

ANABIN - www.anabin.deANABIN is a German acronym for “Recognition and evaluation of foreign educational qualifications” and is a database instigated by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) at the Secretariat of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (KMK). It provides comprehensive documentation for a wide range of foreign states on educational systems, various qualifications as well as on academic degrees and their respective levels.

ADAM – www.adam-europa.euADAM is a portal which presents project results and products from the LEONARDO DA VINCI Programme. It provides an opportunity for home institutions to find potential partner organisations in Europe for the implementation of projects on a joint basis.